'Bankim-da' row: Mamata attacks PM, labels BJP culturally alien

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for referring to Vande Mataram author Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay as "Bankim-da" during his speech in the Lok Sabha on Monday, calling it a shocking display of ignorance and disrespect towards one of Bengal's most revered literary icons.

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Speaking at a public meeting in Cooch Behar, Banerjee said: "Yesterday in Parliament, he called Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay 'Bankim-da'. As if he were saying Shyam-da or Hari-da. Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, who wrote our national song, deserved far more respect. You should bow your head in shame before the people, even that will not be enough. You have insulted the culture and history of this country."

She went on to accuse the BJP of repeatedly undermining Bengal's intellectual and cultural legacy. "They said Raja Rammohan Roy was not a patriot. They called Khudiram Bose a terrorist. They broke Vidyasagar's statue," she said.